Given its name and passion for Ferrari machinery, Rinaldi Racing might be mistaken for an Italian outfit.
In fact this is very much a German operation, based 40km from the Nurburgring in Mendig. Indeed, team founder Michele Rinaldi spent a decade working as a technician at the Porsche Centre in Koblenz before striking out on his own in 2010, creating both a servicing business and a race team.
This too focussed on the Stuttgart marque's machinery and it was not until 2014 that Rinaldi began its association with Ferrari by entering the Endurance Cup. It has since forged close ties with the marque, establishing itself as a frequent winner in the Pro-Am and Am Cup classes.
There has been notable success at the Total 24 Hours of Spa, with Rinaldi taking Pro-Am honours at the 2018 race and adding an Am Cup victory the following year. Alexander Mattschull was part of both crews and has been a regular member of the team, as have fellow bronze-graded drivers Rinat Salikhov and Pierre Ehret.
The team's 2020 effort centres on the Endurance Cup, where the #488 Ferrari of Ehret, Rino Mastronardi and Daniel Keilwitz contends for Pro-Am honours. Away from the circuit Rinaldi continues to operate a servicing business, with Porsche machinery still an area of specialism.
GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS – Endurance Cup
#488 – Pierre Ehret / Rino Mastronardi / Daniel Keilwitz (Pro-Am)